Billingsley Creek Lodge and Retreat - Hagerman

For years, friends Joan Dalton-Boyd, Claudia Vincent, and Patsy Keeney talked about finding a place where they could retire and grow old together. Their dream came true in early 2001 when the three women were on their way to spend some time at a hot springs and stumbled upon the old Rock Lodge in Hagerman.

Built in 1927, the lodge is located on Billingsley Creek and had cabins, a small motel and RV sites, as well as several ponds. The property had been on the market for two years and needed extensive repairs, but it perfectly suited their needs. Today, the refurbished property contains two cabins, six motel rooms, 10 RV sites, a conference center and picnic sites.
To help them through the purchase process, the women turned to the Twin Falls office of the Idaho Small Business Development Center. The age of the lodge posed financing hurdles. Water and environmental studies had to be completed and a business plan written. Even more daunting, a financing partner had to be found that was willing to believe that the three women had the expertise to create a successful business. With the help of the ISBDC, the women received financing through the Region IV Development Association in Twin Falls.

Since purchasing the lodge in May 2001, the three have been too busy to think about retirement. Dalton-Boyd is a former teacher who holds an MA in counseling and specializes in wellness, and grief and loss counseling. Billingsley Creek Lodge is the perfect location for her to hold conferences and retreats.

Keeney manages the property, doing everything from taking reservations to changing beds to mowing the lawn. Keeney’s background is in the medical field and in business management; she is a former x-ray technician and former manager of Norco Medical in Twin Falls.

Vincent, the lodge’s bookkeeper and computer whiz, owns an assisted living center in Twin Falls. All three women have been actively involved in renovations of the lodge.